565 Movies

Todd: So as a big movie fan, what do you think about all the amazing technological special effects that they're doing now?

Al: I think it's going to lead to a point where we don't need actors anymore.

Todd: Seriously.

Al: Yeah.

Todd: I mean, how could they do that though?

Al: You'll be able to completely create a believable character. You can already create a believable character on a computer and give it life and emotion, and he won't be asking for 10 million pounds a movie. He'll be free to create and he'll do exactly what you say, and he'll come to the set on time. He won't need to come to the set will he. He won't turn up on the set drunk is what I mean. He'll be just completely at your mercy to do whatever you want with.

Todd: So, you're saying in the future, they'll just write a story and then just like animation, they'll just design the character and then have the movie with the background and everything.

Al: Yeah. Actors will only be important for reference. Directors will go on back and look at great performances and copy them, or copy nuance and performance for there computer generated character. You'll need the voice actors for awhile, and then computers will be able to create the human voice, recreate the human voice, too.

Todd: Are there any examples of movies, where this is actually happening now?

Al:It's all computer, I think he's a puppet, I think in this one he was completely computer animated. It was a puppet for some of Episode II.

Todd: Yeah. That's pretty impressive.

Al: Yeah, and scary. Human will be unnecessary soon.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

believable

You'll be able to completely create a believable character.

If something is possible in real life then, it is
'believable.' For example a human with wings is not
believable. Notice the following:

I could see that he was lying, because he story was not
believable.

Although it seems crazy, the movie made it believable
that dogs could talk.

give it life

Give it life and emotion, and he won't be asking for 10
million pounds a movie.

'To give something life' is to make it real, believable and
seem to be alive, to give it dimension. Notice the
following:

The story idea is very good, but you need to give it
more life.

The artist gave the painting so much life that it looks
like a photograph.

at your mercy

He'll be just completely at your mercy to do whatever you
want with.

If he is 'at your mercy,' you can do whatever you want with
him, because he is in your control. Notice the
following:

Without my own car, I was really at her mercy to bring
me home.

The students were at the mercy of the horrible teacher.

for reference

Actors will only be important for reference.

If you use someone or something 'for reference,' you use it
as an example for a character or a place. You could
use your grandfather for reference when creating the
character of an old man. Notice the following:

I used my best friend for reference when creating the
main character in the novel

Why don't you use Rome for reference when creating your
city.

puppet

I think in this one he was completely computer animated. It
was a puppet for some of Episode II.

Used like this, a 'puppet' refers to a doll which hangs
from strings that a person can move to make the doll move.
Notice the following:

There are always puppet shows for children at the
library.

He uses a hand puppet as part of his comedy act.

Answer these questions about the interview.

Keep Listening

Here are some more great lessons!

Vocabulary Challenge

Complete the sentences with the words below.

believable • life • mercy
reference • puppet

I can't believe that's a
. It looks so real.

As a director, he is known for producing traditional
stories as movies and giving them
.

Do you believe him? I don't think his story is very
.

Is this an image from your imagination or did you use
a scene in real life for
?

Without your own car you will be at the
of everyone else for a ride
home.